Press Conference people whose homes demolished
After apprising the ex Chief Minister about the pathetic situation of the ‘Service Providers”, a Press Conference was held at the HAM office on the 31, August 2018. The main purpose of the Press Conference was “the plight of the people whose homes have been demolished and whose livelihood has been snatched”. Shri Jitin Ram Manjhi gave a very loud and clear message to the government. There has been a gross violation of human rights. The Honb’le High Court has ordered that encroachment be removed and under this pretext people are suffering.
He made it clear that this operation has to be stopped and the people have to be given alternative resettlement according to the directions of the Supreme Court in the case of Olga Tellis and others. “This Hon’ble Court in Sudama Singh, expounded on the requirements of the State to “meaningful” engage with residents prior to any eviction process. And recognized, similar to the facts presented here, the failure of the State to conduct a comprehensive survey prior to demolition:
The respondents have gone on record with regard to such projects as are in vogue for their relocation, resettlement and rehabilitation. (Ref: (1985) 3 SCC 545 Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation & Ors.; (1997) 11 SCC 121 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Vs. Nawab Khan Gulab Khan & Ors.; MANU/DE/9327/2006 Jagdish vs. DDA; decision of this court dated 11th February, 2010 W.P.(C) No. 8904/2009 Sudama Singh & Ors.) Placing reliance on the obligations under the international instruments, the courts have repeatedly stated that adequate and reasonable facilities for resettlement and effective steps taken for rehabilitation have to be made available before forcible eviction”